Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix reports that the Dallas Mavericks are aiming high in their search for a new front-office architect. They fired Nico Harrison earlier this season. That came less than a year after he executed a trade that will go down as one of the worst in sports history. That's not hyperbole. Sending Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, without opening up the bidding, and settling on minimal draft capital and Anthony Davis, an injury-prone star in his 30s, qualifies for that infamy.
After moving on from Harrison, the Mavericks tabbed team executives Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi to lead their front office together. The duo moved on from Davis at the trade deadline. They sent him to the Washington Wizards for two first-round picks and three second-round selections. It's a better return than Harrison got for Doncic.
However, the expectation is that Dallas will find a new leader to place at the helm of the team's front office this offseason. According to Mannix, Patrick Dumont, the team's governor, has a number of the NBA's top executives on his wish list for that position.
The Mavericks are reportedly eyeing Brad Stevens
Per Mannix, a name high on the Mavericks' wish list is Brad Stevens. The Boston Celtics' president of basketball operations already rebuffed inquiries from the North Carolina Tar Heels. Michael Jordan's alma mater was hoping to hire him to fill their head-coaching vacancy.
Dallas will most likely receive that same response. Frankly, it would come as a shock if Stevens left for that role. Granted, one can't dismiss the possibility that an offer that includes an ownership stake -- like what Tim Connelly received to relocate from the Denver Nuggets to the Minnesota Timberwolves -- could persuade him.
Still, Stevens has settled in Boston, and it is hard to envision him leaving.
Connelly's name is another one on Dumont's wish list. So is the Oklahoma City Thunder's executive vice president and general manager, Sam Presti. The Cleveland Cavaliers' president of basketball operations, Koby Altman, is another top exec that the Mavericks are targeting.
Again, this author won't completely dismiss the possibility of an offer that includes an ownership stake luring one of the NBA's best architects to Dallas. However, the more likely outcome is that these individuals stay with their respective franchises. Odds are, Dumont will have to find someone else to lead the Mavericks moving forward.